A growing coalition of Oregon’s federal lawmakers has publicly opposed any plan by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to open or expand detention facilities in the state, particularly in Newport, citing serious humanitarian, environmental, and community safety concerns.

On February 12, 2026, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR‑06) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D‑OR), joined by the rest of Oregon’s Democratic congressional delegation and ten additional House members, sent a detailed letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. The letter unequivocally opposes any ICE effort to establish new or repurpose existing structures—including so‑called “soft‑sided” facilities—for detention purposes anywhere in Oregon. It emphasizes heightened fears about safety in coastal environments like Newport, notes the Trump administration’s rapid expansion of ICE detention capacity, and raises urgent questions about compliance with environmental regulations such as the National Environmental Policy Act. Lawmakers have asked DHS and ICE to respond by February 23, 2026.Their full letter is embedded on Rep. Salinas’s official site.

This coordinated move follows months of mounting local resistance. In late 2025, contractors had circulated a letter of intent to lease a 4.3‑acre parcel at Newport Municipal Airport for “federal operations commencing … on or around December 1, 2025.” Communities responded with alarm, warning that such plans would jeopardize the Coast Guard’s critical rescue operations and intrusion into the region’s economic and cultural fabric.Seaside public meetings and a unanimous Newport City Council resolution, combined with a letter from State Representative David Gomberg (D‑Otis), spotlighted concerns about transparency and public consultation.

Concurrently, Oregon’s Department of Justice and state lawmakers pursued legal avenues. The State filed amended complaints in federal court seeking injunctions to block construction and demand compliance with environmental and coastal land‑use laws. A 72‑hour detention policy reported by ICE contractors was flagged as a deliberate loophole to skirt stricter regulatory thresholds, even while acknowledging that detainee stays might exceed that limit.Oregon Capital Chronicle coverage of the litigation.

Governor Tina Kotek, addressing the issue in January 2026, denounced intensified federal immigration enforcement as traumatizing to immigrant, Black, Indigenous, and refugee communities. She unveiled new state‑level legislative proposals aimed at increasing transparency, enabling legal action against federal agents, and outlawing masked law enforcement identities—those discussions are slated for the legislative session that began February 2, 2026.Reports from OPB captured her remarks.

Why this matters

The proposed ICE expansion in Newport would be the first of its kind in Oregon, which currently lacks large‑scale detention centers. Such a development poses direct risks to coastal rescue capabilities, local economies dependent on tourism and fishing, and environmental protections. Moreover, the state’s legal response and coordination with local leaders highlight profound concerns over federal agencies operating under a veil of secrecy in communities unprepared for the social and ecological ramifications.

As of February 13, 2026, the ICE facility plan remains unconfirmed. DHS and ICE have not issued official statements disclosing intentions for Newport or broader judicial responses. Community advocates, lawmakers, and local governments remain vigilant, awaiting clarity and accountability.

Sources

• Press release from Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR‑06) and Sen. Jeff Merkley: full letter to DHS and ICE dated February 12, 2026 (Rep. Salinas’s site)
• Community opposition and Newport airport proposal: Newport public meetings and resolution (OPB)
• State legal action and amended complaint: injunction request and environmental concerns (Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• Governor Kotek’s legislative response: remarks delivered January 24, 2026 (OPB)